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Desert Island Tricks
Alakazam Magic
117 episodes
3 days ago
A spirit pressed the bedsheets. A duvet peeled back on its own. And a mummified fairy hoax fooled the world. We sit down with artist and prop-maker Dan Baines to explore how subtle methods and rich storytelling turn haunted curios into unforgettable theatre. From forensics in London to Lebanon Circle’s museum-quality creations for BBC, Warner Brothers, and major exhibitions, Dan shares the craft choices that make bizarre magic feel real: distressed textures, believable provenance, and clever ...
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All content for Desert Island Tricks is the property of Alakazam Magic and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
A spirit pressed the bedsheets. A duvet peeled back on its own. And a mummified fairy hoax fooled the world. We sit down with artist and prop-maker Dan Baines to explore how subtle methods and rich storytelling turn haunted curios into unforgettable theatre. From forensics in London to Lebanon Circle’s museum-quality creations for BBC, Warner Brothers, and major exhibitions, Dan shares the craft choices that make bizarre magic feel real: distressed textures, believable provenance, and clever ...
Show more...
Performing Arts
Arts,
Leisure,
Hobbies
Episodes (20/117)
Desert Island Tricks
Dan Baines
A spirit pressed the bedsheets. A duvet peeled back on its own. And a mummified fairy hoax fooled the world. We sit down with artist and prop-maker Dan Baines to explore how subtle methods and rich storytelling turn haunted curios into unforgettable theatre. From forensics in London to Lebanon Circle’s museum-quality creations for BBC, Warner Brothers, and major exhibitions, Dan shares the craft choices that make bizarre magic feel real: distressed textures, believable provenance, and clever ...
Show more...
3 days ago
1 hour 31 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Keith Barry
A quiet moment in an airport turns unforgettable: Keith Barry shares how a simple card change became a first clear memory for a child recovering from eye cancer and why that reminder of wonder still guides the way he builds every routine. From there, we dig into the material he trusts most, the frameworks that make it bulletproof, and the choices that turn effects into experiences people carry for years. We start with the Invisible Deck and why Jay Sankey’s X handling solves the “you just fli...
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1 week ago
1 hour 3 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Ben Williams
A lot of magicians are taught to copy the script, dress the part, and never take off their shoe. Ben Williams did the opposite and that’s where the magic got good. We sit down with Ben to map the journey from shop counter to full-time pro, and how ditching ego, reading people, and letting effects breathe turned solid tricks into lasting moments. We walk through the eight workers he’d take to a desert island and the choices behind them: why Ring Flight Revolution becomes a miracle when you sl...
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2 weeks ago
1 hour 42 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
R Paul Wilson
The work is the point. That’s the pulse of this candid, wide-ranging session with R. Paul Wilson, creator, consultant, and the mind behind The Real Hustle, where we dig into what actually makes magic land: clear effects, honest timing, and an audience that edits your choices in real time. We open with a hard truth: there are no shortcuts. From Vernon’s Triumph to cups and balls, Paul shows how iteration, not novelty for novelty’s sake, transforms a trick from “doable” to “devastating.” We tra...
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3 weeks ago
1 hour 59 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Joel M
A live show opens with robots, kids, and pure energy, then the control room realises ten full minutes aired with no sound. What happens next says everything about a presenter who helps to keep everything flowing and use his incredibly personable persona to make a disaster feel like it barely even happened. That’s our entry point into a fast, generous conversation with Northern Irish magician and Blue Peter presenter Joel M about building routines that survive chaos, delight kids and adults, a...
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1 month ago
1 hour 34 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Christopher Taylor
What happens when the universe sends you a sign? For Christopher Taylor, it came in the form of a prisoner's profound question and a late-night phone call from David Copperfield on the very same day his wife encouraged him to pursue magic full-time. In this captivating episode, Christopher shares his remarkable journey from prison guard to classroom teacher to pioneering creator of electronic mentalism. As one of the first innovators in this field, his products like Equinox, Real Ghost, and D...
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1 month ago
1 hour 31 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
John Carey
Card magic legend John Carey takes us on a fascinating journey through the eight tricks that defined his remarkable career, from the streets of London to teaching in 26 countries worldwide. John's selections reveal the essence of powerful, practical magic. The Biddle Trick, with its multiple magical moments in a single effect. Triumph, where chaos transforms into perfect order except for the spectator's selection. Cards Across, which proves equally effective in close-up or ...
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1 month ago
1 hour 1 minute

Desert Island Tricks
James Brown
What if everything you thought about magic was missing the point entirely? Prolific creator James Brown shatters conventional wisdom about magical performance, revealing that the true essence of magic isn't found in secrets, techniques, or special abilities, but in the powerful human connections we create. James' journey into magic wasn't the traditional path. Without childhood exposure or magician parents, he approached the art without the constraints and rules most practitioner...
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1 month ago
1 hour 39 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Marvin Berglas
This week we welcome Marvin Berglas, President of The Magic Circle and the creative force behind Marvin's Magic, as he shares the extraordinary journey that shaped his legendary career. Marvin's story begins with a powerful lesson in resilience, when a Harrods buyer dismissively tossed his product aside calling it "that old stinker," he responded not with defeat but determination. Returning weeks later to a different department, he secured a promotion that blossomed into a 40-year relationshi...
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1 month ago
1 hour 11 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Nikolas Mavresis
Nikolas Mavresis, one of magic's most inventive mentalism creators, opens up about the effects that shaped his journey from magic skeptic to prolific innovator. This conversation reveals the fascinating truth behind his creative process and how he approaches method selection. "You have to put yourself in the spectator's shoes and think like laymen," Nikolas explains, pinpointing why some magicians dismiss powerful methods that laypeople find utterly baffling. This philosophy of prioritising a...
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2 months ago
54 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Ben Hanlin
Ever wondered what happens when a car vanish illusion goes wrong hours before filming? Or how swallowing needles helped a struggling magician pay his rent before television fame? Ben Hanlin pulls back the curtain on these stories and more in this incredible episode. The celebrated British magician, known for ITV's "Tricked" and Discovery's "Breaking Magic," reveals the eight effects that defined his career, from close-up card magic that stops conversations instantly to elaborate television sp...
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2 months ago
55 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Wayne McEwan
Step into the magical world of Wayne McEwan, New Zealand's premier children's entertainer and versatile performer who has earned both the Lifetime Achievement Award from Magic New Zealand and Children's Entertainer of the Year honours from the Variety Artist Club of New Zealand. Wayne takes us on a captivating journey through his desert island magic selections, beginning with "Howzatt" by Michael J. Fitch, a cricket-themed paddle trick that culminates in the production of a mini ...
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2 months ago
45 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Tony Antoniou
When magic meets craftsmanship, something special happens. Tony Antoniou embodies this intersection as both a lifetime Magic Circle member and the creative force behind The Mind Hacker, crafting exquisite leather goods that expand the use of popular effects from post-it pads to ProMystic effects. His selections paint a fascinating portrait of his evolution from close-up performer to mentalist, with each choice reflecting deep consideration of what makes magic truly impactful. The journey begi...
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2 months ago
1 hour 4 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Rich Relish
What does a magician do when a spectator wants to read their mind instead of having their own mind read? In a delightful twist shared by Welsh mentalist Rich Relish, he decided to play along, and was shocked when the spectator correctly divined his drawing of a house, leaping into the air with excitement while the wedding photographer captured the perfect moment. This natural, unexpected moment of wonder perfectly encapsulates Rich's approach to magic: creating genuine connections through psy...
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3 months ago
1 hour 3 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Neil Henry
Neil Henry, master of viral magic videos and unforgettable pranks, invites us into his world where play isn't just entertainment, it’s a pathway to possibility. From his early days selling tricks at Covent Garden's Magic Cave to creating videos seen by half a billion people, Neil shares the philosophy that's guided his creative journey. "When a non-magician is asked to make someone fly, they immediately say 'I can't.' But a magician asks, 'What would it look like if I could?'" This simple shi...
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3 months ago
1 hour 31 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Chris North
Magic's unpredictability takes centre stage in this captivating conversation with Chris North, celebrating his 60th year in show business and what an incredible career he’s had. From borrowing rings that go flying during rough seas to audience members pouring beer on his head mid-illusion, Chris shares the hilarious mishaps that have shaped his remarkable career. At 77, Chris looks back on his journey that began when he was just 17. After winning the popular TV talent show "New Faces" in 1976...
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3 months ago
55 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Leo Smetsers
When your name appears in someone's phone as "Crazy Leo," there's a story behind it. Leo Smetsers, a Dutch magical phenomenon who's been mystifying audiences for over three decades, brings his boundless energy and innovative thinking to this captivating conversation about the eight tricks he'd take to a desert island. Leo's selections reveal much about his performance philosophy, especially his signature Three Shell Game, which upends conventional wisdom by ensuring the spectator always wins....
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3 months ago
56 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Nikola Arkane
In this week’s episode, Nikola Arkane reveals the theatrical foundations that elevate her performances from mere tricks to captivating experiences. With a background in drama from Queen's University, Nikola brings a unique perspective to magical performance that transforms standard effects into memorable moments of wonder. At the heart of Nikola's magical journey is FizzWizzPop, her beloved children's character who discovers and solves magical problems alongside young audiences. "She was my f...
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4 months ago
1 hour 10 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Russ Stevens
Ever wondered who's behind the mind-blowing magic that captivates millions on Britain's Got Talent? Meet Russ Stevens, the unsung hero orchestrating magical moments for one of television's biggest shows. In this riveting conversation, Russ pulls back the curtain on his remarkable journey from reluctant collaborator to BGT's dedicated magic consultant, single-handedly revolutionising how magic is presented to mainstream audiences. With refreshing candour, Russ reveals how a show that once mock...
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4 months ago
1 hour 25 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
Oliver Tabor
This week we welcome Oliver Tabor, FISM European champion and creator of the acclaimed West End Magic show to the Alakazam Island. In this captivating conversation, Oliver reveals the eight magical effects that have defined his remarkable career – from the humble Svengali deck that first sparked his passion as a child to the massive Fabergé egg illusion that requires five flight cases to transport. Oliver's journey through magic is a masterclass in dedication and artistic integrity. Having pe...
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4 months ago
1 hour 19 minutes

Desert Island Tricks
A spirit pressed the bedsheets. A duvet peeled back on its own. And a mummified fairy hoax fooled the world. We sit down with artist and prop-maker Dan Baines to explore how subtle methods and rich storytelling turn haunted curios into unforgettable theatre. From forensics in London to Lebanon Circle’s museum-quality creations for BBC, Warner Brothers, and major exhibitions, Dan shares the craft choices that make bizarre magic feel real: distressed textures, believable provenance, and clever ...